………………..(Baseball)………………

Padres-Tampa Bay….Trade-Surprise deal…San Diego ships OF-Manny Margot (.248-career) and minor league C-Logan Driscoll (.246) to Rays for closer Emilio Pagan (20-saves..2.31-ERA..90K-70inn….179-BA against)..Pagan joins his fourth team in his young career…Gives Padres a strong 11-man bullpen…Padres to turn CF-over to platoon of Will Myers-Trent Grisham-Franchy Cordero.

Padres…Bullpen now made up of Kirby Yates-Craig Stammen-Drew Pomeranz-Matt Strahm-Jose Castillo-Troy Wingenter-Michel Baez-Gerardo Reyes-Luis Perdomo-Andres Munoz-David Bednar battling for 7-positions…as pitchers-catchers report on Wednesday.

Padres…Manager Jayce Tingler says he will have open competition for 2-outfield spots….Will move forward with Wil Myers as centerfielder despite all the efforts to trade him….Myers will also play some 1B-rotating with Eric Hosmer…says there must be ‘improvement in worst infield defense in NL from last year’

Dodgers-Red Sox-Twins…Restructure 3-way deal..in Mookie Betts deal after Boston refused to accept minor league pitching prospect Brusdar Graterol because of past injury history-elbow-shohlder…Dodgers send Kenta Maeda and 10M cash and a minor leaguer to Minnesota….LA will keep Graterol, receive #2 draft pick and a minor leaguer…Red Sox get Alex Verdugo…SS-Jeter Downs and C-Connoir Wong to complete transaction…Dodgers get Betts-Price and 48M to complete transaction…Dodgers-Twins doctors passed Graterol on physicals…Red Sox doctors would not.

Dodgers-Angels..Report trade could be cancelled…Owner Arte Moreno upset at Dodgers and delays imposed by the Red Sox…Reopen talks about players in Joc Pederson deal…LA might pull P-Ross Stripling out of that trade.

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(MLB)

Wall Street Journal…Reports evidence surfaced that Astros developed a sign stealing program and used it in home-road games in 2016…Devised by GM-Jeff Luhnow….called ‘Codebreaker’ …was replaced in 2017 by a better video system created by bench coach Alex Cora…EMails between Luhnow and 2-of his assistants referred to the system as ‘Dark Art’….MLB not responding to why 2-assistants were not disciplined since they had direct input into the 2-systems the Astros used.

Roger Kahn-Legendary baseball author..passes away (92Y)…wrote ‘Boys of Summer’ and some 20-other baseball books.

Angel Echevarria-infielder Rockies-Cubs-Brewers-passes away (48Y) from fall in home.

Boston…Offering managerial job to Ron Roenicke-ex Brewers manager..had (342-331) record in Milwaukee…Longtime Angels coach.

Jessica Mendoza…Removed from Sunday Night ESPN baseball broadcast…also resigns front office consultant job with Mets…will work other ESPN projects.

Mets..Hire Chad Kreuter as manager Syracuse-AAA farm club…Promotes Brian Schneider to coaching job with Mets.

Giants…OF-Aramis Garcia-surgery-torn labrum-out 6-months.

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(Roster Moves)

Giants..Sign FA-OF-Billy Hamilton-ex Reds-Royals
Texas..Sign FA-P-Cody Allen-ex Indians-Angels
Giants..Sign FA-OF-Hunter Pence-ex Texas-Houston
Indians..Sign FA-C-Cam Rupp-ex Phillies
Toronto..Sign FA-P-Jake Petricka-ex Texas
White Sox..Sign FA-P-Norge Vera-ex Cuban star..(18Y)
Phillies..Sign FA-P-Tommy Hunter-ex-Braves
Tampa Bay..Sign FA-P-Sean Gilmartiun-ex Red Sox
Toronto..Sign FA-P-Brian Moran-ex Miami

Twins..DH-Kendrys Morales retires

Indians..Open negotiations with FA-OF-Domingo Santana-ex Seattle
Giants..Make contact with FA-OF-Yasiel Puig

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……………………(Basketball)………………

Aztecs…Ranked #1 seed in East regional in first NCAA-Basketball Committee poll….SDSU potentially would open play in Sacramento the first weekend of March Madness…then would go to Madison Square Garden as #1 seed…Also in the MSG bracket…could be Duke-Maryland-Butler…There will be 4-more rankings before ‘Selection Sunday’.

Aztecs-W-Air Force (89-74)…SDSU hits 14-3’s…KG Feagin (21P) as SDSU gets to (24-0)

USD-W-Portland (88-81) OT…Braun Hatfield (23P) in win…Toreros has lost 10-of-11…now (9-17) on season.

SMU…Investigation confrontation with Travin May-head coach of women’s team-accused of abusive behavior of players…Told 1-player to ‘go ahead commit suicide’

Indiana..Honors legendary coach Bob Knight-had been 20-years since he attended a game at Assembly Hall since his firing in 2000 for deportment violations imposed by school..

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(NBA)

Kobe Bryant…NTSB investigation update….No engine failure before crash into hillside…Copter was within 100′ of clearing a hillside when it went into a turn-descent and flew into another mountain….Copter was traveling at 176mph…destroyed-exploded instantly upon contact…the cockpit and cabin were found 172′ from point of initial impact.

Clippers…F-Marcus Moore-ex Knicks-reports to team after Trading Deadline Deal…(19PPG-5R)..brings explosive scoring and toughness.

Clippers..Release G-Isaiah Thomas who came from Knicks in trade.

Lakers-Clippers….Both opened talks with FA-G-Darren Collison about contract..decides to stay retired.

Memphis..Release G-Dion Waiters
76ers..F-Kyle O’Quinn asks for release.
Knicks..Begin buyout talks with F-Wayne Ellington..G-Bobby Portis
Charlotte..Buys out F-Marvin Williams…F-Michael Kidd-Gilchrist

Milwaukee..Signs Fa-F-Marvin Williams-ex Charlotte
Golden State..Sign FA-G-Zach Norvell-ex Lakers

Orlando..coach Steve Clifford-fined 25,000 for criticism of NBA refs.

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Clippers-W-Cleveland (133-92)…LA explodes for 73-points in first half…..held Cavs to 36% shooting in handing them 41-point homeport loss…..Sunday game…Clippers (37-16)

Clippers-L-Minnesota (142-115)…Friday night blowout…Timberwolves snapped 13-game losing streak….Minnesota hit 26-3 point shots…had 7-in double figures in bombing LA in Minneapolis.

Lakers-W-Golden State (125-120)…Anthony Davis-LeBron James combined (49P-18R)…Lakers (39-12) on year.

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……………….(Football)………………..

(NFL)

Union-Owners…Go back to negotiating table on Thursday…to continue discussion on proposed 17-game schedule for 2021 season…Union 11-member Executive Committee refused to sign off on expanded season…Union 32-player reps split down middle on going to 17-game schedule.

NFL..Invite (337) players to combine in Indianapolis…C-Keith Ismael only SDSU player invited…S-Luq Barcoo-LB-Ky Tezina were bypassed.

Kellen Winslow Junior…Prosecutor asks for full 18-year prison sentence for former NFL player after his guilty plea on 2-rape charges…had already been convicted on 3-other sex crimes.

Johnny Manziel…Criticizes XFL for not giving him an opportunity to play…Manziel sued for divorce by wife of 1-year for adultery.

Antonio Brown…Loses lawsuit…will have to pay 250-to-400,000 for destruction of condo in Florida he vandalized.

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(XFL)

Houston-W-LA (37-17)..QB-PJ Walker (272P-4TD) in Roughnecks win over Wildcats.

DC-W-Seattle (31-19)..QB-Cardale Jones (291P-2TD)..Defenders defense 2-interceptions-Blocked Punt for TD against Dragons.

Tampa Bay-L-NY Guardians (23-3)…QB-Matt McGloin (182P-TD)..ran for TD..in win…Aaron Murray (231P-2 Int-1 Fu-5 sacks) in ugly loss..

Dallas-L-St Louis (15-9)…QB-Jordan Ta’amu (209P-79R) in upset win…Dallas QB-Philip Nelson (33-42) 179P-threw bad interception end of game in loss…

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(Teams)

Carolina..Refuse to comment on decision coming on (18M) option on Cam Newton contract.

Washington…Decision coming on (3.1M) option on RB-Adrian Peterson.

Arizona…Attempting to trade RB-David Johnson-owed (10.2M) next year.

Rams..Meet with agent for RB-Todd Gurley-owed (10.5M) next year on guaranteed contract.

Chiefs..May ask WR-Sam Watkins to take payout from (14.1M) cap figure contract.

Redskins..Meet with QB-Alex Smith to discuss possible comeback..had 17-surgeries after breaking leg two years ago.

Bills..Hire Jacques Cesaire-DL coach-ex Chargers player
Carolina..Hire Sean Padden-ex Baylor-Dir Football Operations
Browns..Hire Chris Kiffin-ex 49ers..DL coach
Browns..Hire Jason Tarver-ex Raiders-LB coach
Browns..Hire TJ McCarty-ex-Broncos-offensive consultant
Dallas..Hire Lunda Wells-ex Giants-OL assistant
Eagles..Hire Darren Sproles-scout
Eagles..Hire Ted Rath-ex Rams-trainer-suspended during sex assault
49ers..Hire Tony Oden-ex Miami-DB coach
Redskins..Hire Jenny King-assistant coach-2nd woman in NFL

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(College Football)

Mountain West Conference….votes to allow Boise State to receive an additional (1.8M) in sidebar TV deal in addition to (3.3M) will receive in new television contract with Fox-CBS.

Michigan State..Interviews Cincinnati coach Luke Fickell for Spartans head coaching job…49ers Def Coord-Robert Saleh withdraws name from consideration.

Youngstown State…Hires Doug Phillips as head coach replacing Bo Pelini…ex U-Cinn assistant.

==============================

……………….(Hockey)……………….

Ducks-W-Buffalo (3-2)…Ducks score 3-goals in 6:31 span in first period and win…Anaheim hot..Won 6-of-10…..(23-26-7) on year

Kings-L-NY Rangers (4-1)….Ranges score 2-goals in (:37) span…Kings plunge into awful season continues……LA-lost 14-of-16.

Gulls-Bakersfield…..Scorching hot Gulls score 3-goals in (3:15) span…led (4-1) in 3rd period at Press Time…..Gulls (10-1-2) in last 13-games.

Ducks..Veteran F-Ryan Getzlaf refuses to waive ‘no trade’ clause in contract…wants to finish his 15Y-career in Anaheim…

Ducks..Callup RW-Keifer Sherwood from San Diego..had (14G) with Gulls in AHL.
Ducks..Callup D-Josh Mahura..D-Brandon Grule from Gulls on Sunday
Gulls..Sign FA-D-Kevin Lohan (6’5) from Orlando Solar Bears ECHL.

Boston-Montreal..discussing Ilya Kovalchuk-David Backes trade

Arizona..Report NHL looking at 20-violations by Coyotes-illegal workouts with possible NHL draft picks

Toronto..Longtime Leafs D-Brian Glennie-passes away (73Y)..played 11-years with Leafs-LA Kings

Rangers..F-Michael Haley-core muscle surgery-out 8W
Leafs..Lose D-Cody Ceci-4W-ankle injury
Penguins..D-John Marino-surgery-3 facial fractures-hit by shot

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……………….(General)……………….

NASCAR….Daytona Clash….Erik Jones survives 2-big crashes final 7-laps to win race…only 6-cars finished running….Denny Hamlin wiped out half the field with blown tire wreck running upfront with 7-laps left..Was opening Speed Week

Daytona 500…Ricky Stenhouse wins poll for next Sunday 500…clocked at (194.5) in qualifying….Alex Bowman will start in front row with him.

Golf…ATT-Pebble Beach…Canadian Nick Taylor ends 5-year drought..going wire-to-wire win…had 4-birdies-eagle of finish first at (-18)…held off Kevin Streelman (-15)…Phil Mickelson who finished (-14) self destructed with 4-bogeys and double bogey in 7-hole span in middle of final round.

Soccer-English Premier League
..Manchester City-West Ham-Cancelled violent rainstorms
..Sheffield-W-Bournemouth…United scores (84′)
..Everton-W-Crystal Palace

Manchester United….BBC reports that London Sun was made aware there would be ‘act of violence’ against Man U-Chairman Ed Woodward..and that a Sun reporter and photographer were ‘on hand’ to cover a fire bomb incident that occurred at Woodward home weeks ago.

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